Engineers, chemists, lend me your expertise. I heard a word today,

[raccoon]

it's an adjective, "hydro--something." It means that a substance soaks up water.

Looked in dictionary but I couldn't find it. The man was saying that wool soaks up water.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Hydroscopic, I think

Oops, misspelled: HyGroscopic.

[zipplewrath]

2. hygroscopic

Absorbs moisture from the surrounding environment.

[lapucelle]

3. Hygroscopic?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygroscopy

(You could have followed your avatar's lead and simply invented your own word. )

[unblock]

9. the bard might have just re-purposed "thirsty" ;)

[lapucelle]

10. I wonder if he knew

that some things have the tendency to be "wetted by water" and other things do not. (see hydrophilic)

[unblock]

4. hygroscopic, not hydroscopic

i think hydroscopic only means of or relating to a hydroscope, which is something that lets you observe underwater.

[Cracklin Charlie]

13. I think a hygroscope...

Last edited Mon Jul 10, 2017, 05:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Measures water in air, so hygroscopic would make sense.

Edit to correct: hygrometer measures water in air, not hygroscope. Duh.

[Laffy Kat]

18. "Scope" is an instrument to look at something. nt

[Cracklin Charlie]

21. You're right.

I edited to correct to hygrometer. Also duh'd myself for good measure.

[Laffy Kat]

22. LOL.

[lapucelle]

5. According to Quora:

"Hygroscopic is the ability of a substance to absorb or adsorb moisture/water from its surroundings. A hydro scope is a viewing tool used to see in or under water so hydroscopic would be the ability to see in water."

https://www.quora.com/Is-hydroscopic-a-word-If-yes-then-what-is-the-difference-between-hydroscopic-and-hygroscopic

[lapucelle]

11. Which led me to this...

"The Difference Between Adsorb and Absorb".

http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-adsorb-and-absorb/

I can feel my brain getting bigger!

[bbrady42]

6. or Hydrophilic

[raccoon]

7. Thank you, thank you, for your responses. nt

[lapucelle]

8. Well I learned three new words today!

hy·dro·phil·ic
adjective: hydrophilic

having a tendency to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water.

[MosheFeingold]

19. Learn four

Hydrophobic --- no, this isn't a person who discriminates against mermaids.

It's things that don't mix well with water. For example, oil.

[lapucelle]

24. Mermaids (and the less popular mermen)

are hydrophilic: of, relating to, or having a strong affinity for water.

I think we all need to admit that we were the geeks who liked to read the dictionary when we were kids.

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. was thinking hydrophilic (yes, I am a chemist - and didn't sleep at a holiday inn last night!)

[Warpy]

28. And I immediately thought "deliquescence,"

which describes the mechanism by which a substance absorbs ambient water, not an unnatural affinity for lox and smoked whitefish.

[NRaleighLiberal]

29. great word!

[Shrek]

14. Spongeworthy n/t

[jberryhill]

15. Gin

[longship]

17. Gin is not only hydrophilic, it is miscible with water.

That's why one should only stir a martini, never ever shake. Some of the ice will melt and quickly dissolve with the ethanol in the gin. No shaking necessary, let alone desired.

Take a generous amount of gin. Add some vermouth (to taste) and a dash of bitters, stir over very cold ice. Serve immediately; the colder, the better. Garnish with olive(s).

:skål:

[Wounded Bear]

20. That's probably why James Bond only drinks vodka martinis...

shaken, not stirred.

[lapucelle]

25. James Bond is wrong?

That shatters all my illusions.

[longship]

30. Nope. Ian Fleming was wrong.

But he was a spy and an author, not a bartender. So he just didn't know better.

You never shake a martini, a Manhattan, or any all booze drink. It aerates the drink. You don't want that. You want the drink served absolutely clear. No shaking!

Shake all you want if the drink has juice in it.

[lapucelle]

31. I stand corrected.

[longship]

32. "Shaken not stirred" works as a plot device.

It supposedly adds color to the Bond character.

But martini fans cringe when they hear it. It makes Bond a tasteless cad.

My best to you.

[3catwoman3]

16. Nurse practitioner here.

I agree with those who picked "hydrophilic."

[Orrex]

23. Hydrolicious

[Skittles]

26. so many nerds in this thread

hard to know which one to pick

[surrealAmerican]

27. Wool might not be a good example.

It can be almost waterproof if the lanolin hasn't been removed.